Shepherd dog games: how to have fun at home

Herding dogs are generally smart, easy to train, loving and loyal. These qualities make them not only excellent helpers in grazing animals, but also excellent companions. 

At the same time, they have great energy and a highly developed shepherd instinct, which can make living in an apartment with them especially problematic. The ability to take such a pet indoors will greatly facilitate the life of its owners. What are the features of keeping shepherd dogs?

Features of herding dogs

According to the American Kennel Club, herding dogs have an innate instinct to perform a sequence of predatory actions that allow them to hunt and capture prey. This sequence includes searching for prey, stalking, chasing, chasing, capturing, biting-killing, rending, and eating. 

Over time, people began to breed these pets in order to isolate or suppress various aspects of this predatory sequence in accordance with their goals. All herding breeds, such as Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, and German Shepherds, retain the instincts to seek, track, and chase, and in some cases, bite. Thanks to these skills, four-legged friends manage herds of sheep and cattle.

Usually shepherd dogs are most satisfied with life when they have the opportunity to realize them and spend the accumulated energy. Otherwise, they may exhibit problematic behaviors such as trying to herd and command children, other pets, and even adults. This may include biting and even biting. Therefore, it is important to give the herding dog the opportunity to constructively implement these instincts.

Recommendations for living in an apartment with herding dogs

Although herding breeds usually do better in a house with a large yard, these smart and easy to train dogs adapt well to apartment life under certain conditions. A residential complex, next to which there is a park, can compensate for the lack of its own yard. This will help the pet to burn excess energy, and the owner to play throwing objects with a four-legged friend. Otherwise, you will have to walk your dog a lot or maybe even go for a run with him to meet his daily exercise needs. 

Agility and other sports for these pets will be great ways to spend time. They contribute to the realization of the instincts of tracking and stalking. 

If the dog will often be left alone at home, it is better to provide him with plenty of interactive toys to keep him out of trouble in the absence of the owner.

Herding breeds come in a wide variety of sizes, and some are better suited to apartment living than others. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi are small in size, so they make excellent apartment dogs. Medium-sized breeds such as Border Collies and Australian Cattle Dogs also adapt well to apartment life if they are provided with enough play and exercise. Even a large German Shepherd can feel great in an apartment if the owner has the opportunity to devote a lot of time to walking every day. 

Before adopting a herding dog in an apartment, it is important to research the different herding breeds and make sure the owner has enough time to meet their exercise, activity, and training needs.

Playing with the dog at home

If the owner can’t leave the house for some reason, there are a few games for active dogs to keep them entertained indoors:

• Treyball. This type of dog sport is just made for herding breeds, and although sporting events usually involve a group of dogs, it can be easily adapted for indoor play, suggests Cuteness. You need to purchase several inflatable fitness balls for your dog in different sizes and colors that will imitate livestock. The goal of the game is to get the pet to drive the balls from one end of the room to the other.
• Hide and Seek. This game requires no special equipment and is a fun way to bond with your dog. The owner must hide in different places in the apartment, and the pet must find him and get a tasty reward. As an alternative way to play, you can hide treats and toys in the apartment that your four-legged friend will look for.
• Throwing game at home. Shepherd dogs love this game. If there is enough space in the apartment, for example in the living room or a long corridor, you can throw the dog’s favorite toy so that it rushes after it and brings it to the owner. This is a great way to satisfy her pursuit and capture instincts.

Herding dogs are not ideal for apartment life, but if owners are able and willing to set aside time for play and exercise, four-legged friends will be just as happy living in an apartment as they would be on any farm or homestead.